Maryland School Health partners' Perspectives on the Impact of COVID-19 on School Health Services for Grades K-12.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine school operations, including school health programs. This study aims to describe the pandemic's impact on school health service delivery from the perspective of Maryland school health partners. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with health service representatives from public schools (K-12) between July and December 2021. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded through an iterative process to develop analytic themes. RESULTS: Twenty school health partners from 15 Maryland school districts participated. Participants identified key impacts of COVID-19 on school health: (1) COVID-19 disrupted delivery of services such as dental, mental health, and preventative care, (2) COVID-19 necessitated changes in service delivery platforms, (3) COVID-19 affected school health staff through increased responsibilities and staffing shortages, and (4) COVID-19 prompted schools to become hubs for community outreach and health education. IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY: Consideration of school health service disruptions and the increased demands on service providers may inform future priorities for school administrators, health departments, and policymakers. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 impacted the timing and method of service delivery as well as the roles of school health staff and schools themselves in public health and education.

Model-Estimated Association Between Simulated US Elementary School-Related SARS-CoV-2 Transmission, Mitigation Interventions, and Vaccine Coverage Across Local Incidence Levels.

Importance: With recent surges in COVID-19 incidence and vaccine authorization for children aged 5 to 11 years, elementary schools face decisions about requirements for masking and other mitigation measures. These decisions require explicit determination of community objectives (eg, acceptable risk level for in-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission) and quantitative estimates of the consequences of changing mitigation measures. Objective: To estimate the association between adding or removing in-school mitigation measures (eg, masks) and COVID-19 outcomes within an elementary school community at varying student vaccination and local incidence rates. Design, Setting, and Participants: This decision analytic model used an agent-based model to simulate SARS-CoV-2 transmission within a school community, with a simulated population of students, teachers and staff, and their household members (ie, immediate school community). Transmission was evaluated for a range of observed local COVID-19 incidence (0-50 cases per 100 000 residents per day, assuming 33% of all infections detected). The population used in the model reflected the mean size of a US elementary school, including 638 students and 60 educators and staff members in 6 grades with 5 classes per grade. Exposures: Variant infectiousness (representing wild-type virus, Alpha variant, and Delta variant), mitigation effectiveness (0%-100% reduction in the in-school secondary attack rate, representing increasingly intensive combinations of mitigations including masking and ventilation), and student vaccination levels were varied. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcomes were (1) probability of at least 1 in-school transmission per month and (2) mean increase in total infections per month among the immediate school community associated with a reduction in mitigation; multiple decision thresholds were estimated for objectives associated with each outcome. Sensitivity analyses on adult vaccination uptake, vaccination effectiveness, and testing approaches (for selected scenarios) were conducted. Results: With student vaccination coverage of 70% or less and moderate assumptions about mitigation effectiveness (eg, masking), mitigation could only be reduced when local case incidence was 14 or fewer cases per 100 000 residents per day to keep the mean additional cases associated with reducing mitigation to 5 or fewer cases per month. To keep the probability of any in-school transmission to less than 50% per month, the local case incidence would have to be 4 or fewer cases per 100 000 residents per day. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, in-school mitigation measures (eg, masks) and student vaccinations were associated with substantial reductions in transmissions and infections, but the level of reduction varied across local incidence. These findings underscore the potential role for responsive plans that deploy mitigation strategies based on local COVID-19 incidence, vaccine uptake, and explicit consideration of community objectives.

Teacher and school staff perspectives on their role in school-based vision programs.

OBJECTIVE: School-based vision programs (SBVPs) are one approach to increase access to vision care by providing vision screenings, eye examinations, and eyeglasses directly in schools. Few studies report on the perspectives of teachers and staff, who are important stakeholders, on SBVPs. We examined teacher and staff perspectives on their involvement in SBVPs. DESIGN: Qualitative study using focus groups. PARTICIPANTS: Teachers and staff at Baltimore and Chicago public schools served by SBVPs between 2016 and 2018. METHODS: We conducted 21 semistructured focus groups with 117 teachers and staff in 10 Baltimore and 11 Chicago public preK-12 schools that participated in SBVPs. Sessions were recorded, transcribed, and coded using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants identified 2 main themes regarding teacher and staff involvement in SBVPs: (i) program outreach, including using multiple communication modalities to engage parents, explaining program details to families, and helping with program consent form return and (ii) promoting vision health, including identifying vision problems in the classroom, encouraging eyeglasses wear, and supporting eyeglasses maintenance. Participants also discussed limitations in capacity to partake in these activities. CONCLUSION: Teachers interact with parents and students throughout the SBVP process, undertaking important roles in outreach and health promotion to ensure uptake of SBVP services. SBVPs and other school-based health programs should explore strategies to support teachers in the roles they fill to optimize program impact.

Autonomia política como prática de cuidado: a gramática da educação zapatista / La autonomía política como práctica del cuidado: la gramática de la educación zapatista / Political autonomy as a practice of care: the grammar of zapatista education

RESUMO. Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir, com bases em diferentes registros, a gramática presente na discursividade de informes oficiais do Movimento Zapatista, no que tange especificamente à educação zapatista, em especial desde a noção de autonomia como modo de organizar esta dimensão da vida em sociedade, entendendo a autonomia como resistência à tutela do Estado na gestão da escola e, micropoliticamente, a ruptura da tutela do processo educativo pelo promotor de educação. Observamos, a partir do estudo das Declarações da Selva Lancadona e da Escuelita Zapatista, que estas fundam-se numa crítica aos modelos estatais de governo da educação, refutando a perspectiva intercultural, defendendo a pluridiversidade. Este modo de compreender o processo educativo, e o modo de praticar o cuidado nos leva a uma compreensão mais ampla para a psicologia, refletindo sobre possibilidades de conexão entre novas invenções psi no trabalho junto à infância e à psicologia da educação.

RESUMÉN Este artículo tiene como objetivo discutir, a partir de diferentes registros, la gramática presente en el discurso de los informes oficiales del Movimiento Zapatista, con respecto específicamente a la educación zapatista, especialmente desde la noción de autonomía como una forma de organizar esta dimensión de la vida en sociedad, entendiendo la autonomía como resistencia a la tutela del Estado en la gestión de la escuela y, micropolíticamente, la ruptura de la tutela del proceso educativo por parte del promotor de la educación. Observamos, a partir del estudio de las Declaraciones de la Selva Lancadona y Escuelita Zapatista, que estos se basan en una crítica a los modelos estatales de gobierno en educación, refutando la perspectiva intercultural, defendiendo la pluridiversidad. Esta forma de entender el proceso educativo, y la forma de practicar el cuidado, nos lleva a una comprensión más amplia de la psicología, reflexionando sobre las posibilidades de conexión entre los nuevos inventos psi en el trabajo con los niños y la psicología de la educación.

ABSTRACT. This article aims to discuss, based on different records, the grammar present in the discourse of Zapatista Movement official reports, specifically regarding the Zapatista education, especially from the idea of autonomy as a way of organizing this dimension of life in society, understanding this autonomy as resistance to State tutelage in the management of schools, as well as the rupture of the educational process tutelage by the promoters of education in micropolitical terms. We observed, based on the study of the Statements of the Selva Lancadona and Escuelita Zapatista, that these are centered on a criticism of state models of government in education, refuting the intercultural perspective, defending pluridiversity. This way of understanding the educational process, and the way of practicing care, leads us to a broader understanding of psychology, reflecting on possibilities of connection between new psychology inventions at work with children and the psychology of education.

Fatores associados à satisfação e distorção da imagem corporal em crianças de 7 a 10 anos de idade / Factors associated with satisfaction and distortion of body image among children from 7 to 10 years of age

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a satisfação e distorção da imagem corporal em crianças de 7 a 10 anos de idade e verificar quais fatores antropométricos e socioeconômicos estão associados a elas. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 307 crianças de escolas públicas de Goiânia. A saúde da criança e os aspectos socioeconômicos da família foram avaliados por meio de um questionário semiestruturado; a imagem corporal foi avaliada por meio da Escala de Silhuetas Brasileiras Para Crianças; e também foram coletados dados antropométricos de peso, estatura, dobras cutâneas e circunferência da cintura. Observou-se homogeneidade do gênero neste estudo, predomínio de meninos (52%) eutróficos (73%). Apesar de se tratar de uma amostra com peso saudável, a insatisfação e a distorção da imagem corporal prevaleceram sobre a maior parte da amostra: a insatisfação esteve presente em 92% das crianças, prevalecendo o desejo por uma menor silhueta, enquanto a distorção esteve presente em 75% da amostra, com predomínio da subestimação da silhueta. No entanto, este estudo encontrou associação da insatisfação com a imagem corporal apenas com IMC (aferido, atual e desejado) e circunferência da cintura; e associação da distorção da imagem corporal apenas com os IMC (aferido e atual).

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to analyze the satisfaction and distortion of body image in children from 7 to 10 years old and to verify which anthropometric and socioeconomic factors are associated with them. This is a cross-sectional study, carried out with 307 children from public schools in Goiânia. The child's health and the socioeconomic aspects of the family were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire; body image was assessed using the Brazilian Silhouettes Scale for Children; and anthropometric data on weight, height, skinfolds and waist circumference were also collected. Gender homogeneity was observed in this study, with a predominance of eutrophic(73%) boys (52%). Despite being a sample with a healthy weight, dissatisfaction and distortion of body image prevailed over most of the sample: dissatisfaction was present in 92% of children, the desire for a smaller silhouette prevailing, while distortion was present in 75% of the sample, with a predominance of underestimation of the silhouette. However, this study found dissatisfaction association with body image only with BMI (measured, current and desired) and waist circumference; and association of the distortion of the body image only with the BMI (measured and current).

Efecto de las estrategias de reapertura de escuelas en la transmisión de SARS-CoV-2 en niños y adolescentes / Effect of school reopening strategies on transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in children and teenagers

INTRODUCCIÓN: La enfermedad por el coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) causada por el coronavirus 2 del Síndrome respiratorio agudo grave o SARS-CoV-2 fue inicialmente reportada en Wuhan, China en diciembre de 2019 (1). El 30 de enero de 2020 la OMS determinó que la COVID-19 representaba una emergencia de salud pública de importancia internacional y posteriormente el 11 de marzo del 2020 fue declarada como pandemia. La rápida propagación de las infección causada por el SARS-CoV-2, el virus responsable de COVID-19, causó que en casi todos los países del mundo se implementaran medidas de confinamiento de la población, lo que condujo al cierre de las escuelas, debido a que en el inicio de esta pandemia no se conocía la magnitud del rol de los niños como medio de transmisión de esta nueva infección (2). El cierre de las escuelas es una medida que ha tenido repercusión en la educación de los niños, y además es una medida que tiene un impacto negativo en el bienestar físico, emocional y social, especialmente sobre aquellos niños que pertenecen a grupos sociales desfavorecidos (2,3). A la fecha se tiene evidencia de que los niños representan solo una pequeña proporción de los casos de COVID-19 y generalmente desarrollan una enfermedad leve y transitoria frente a la infección por la variante inicial del virus (2). Este escenario podría cambiar ante el surgimiento de nuevas variantes del SARS-CoV-2 (4,5). OBJETIVO: Sintetizar la evidencia disponible sobre el efecto de las estrategias de reapertura de escuelas en la transmisión de COVID-19 en niños y adolescentes. METODOLOGÍA: Pregunta PICO abordada: ¿Cuál es el efecto de las estrategias de reapertura de escuelas en la transmisión de COVID-19 en niños y adolescentes? Para este informe, se decidió incluir estudios primarios que evalúen el efecto de cualquier intervención o estrategia preventiva de reapertura de escuelas que reporten al menos uno de los desenlaces previstos. Se excluyeron artículos enfocados en evaluar estrategias de seguimiento de casos reportados en escuelas, publicaciones en idiomas distintos a inglés y español, y revisiones narrativas y artículos de opinión. Las revisiones sistemáticas y narrativas identificadas fueron analizadas para identificar estudios primarios. Se revisaron las páginas web de los gobiernos de países latinoamericanos para revisar las estrategias que vienen desarrollando estos países. La búsqueda se efectuó en las bases de datos MEDLINE (a través de PubMed), EMBASE (a través de OVID), Cochrane Library, y LILACS ( a través de la Biblioteca virtual en Salud) con límite de fecha del 23 de agosto de 2021. Se utilizaron términos en lenguaje natural y lenguaje estructurado según cada base (tesauros) para COVID-19, y las intervenciones listadas previamente. Las estrategias de búsqueda para cada base se muestran en el Anexo 01. A fin de identificar estudios adicionales, se examinaron las listas de referencias de las publicaciones relevantes. La selección de estudios fue realizada por ambas autoras de manera independiente. La extracción de datos fue realizada de forma individual por cada autora. Se resumió la evidencia de forma narrativa y mediante tablas priorizándose los resultados vinculados a COVID-19. RESULTADOS: La búsqueda sistemática identificó 427 citaciones. Luego de la eliminación de duplicados, y tamizaje de títulos y resúmenes, se seleccionaron 30 estudios para lectura a texto completo como se aprecia en el Anexo 02 (Diagrama de flujo). De ellos, fueron excluidos 10, cuyas razones de exclusión se detallan en el Anexo 03. En total, este informe incluye 20 artículos. De los estudios identificados, 10 fueron estudios observacionales y 10 estudios de modelamiento matemático. Entre los estudios observacionales, uno fue desarrollado en Estados Unidos, cinco en Inglaterra, uno en España, uno en Italia, uno en Corea, y uno en Israel. CONCLUSIONES: Se han identificado 10 estudios observacionales realizados en países de distintos continentes que analizan el efecto de la reapertura de escuelas en la trasmisión de COVID-19 en niños y adolescentes. En el caso específico de un país donde no hubo confinamiento general como Corea, no se reportó un aumento repentino de casos pediátricos después de la apertura de escuelas. En Estados Unidos, al comparar tres modalidades de reapertura de escuelas, la tasa de crecimiento de COVID-19 de la modalidad remota fue la más baja, pero al comparar la modalidad presencial y semipresencial, se observó que la modalidad semipresencial tuvo una tasa más alta que la modalidad presencial. Dos estudios realizados en Inglaterra, en el mes de reapertura de escuelas encontraron que el número de casos de COVID-19 en niños de educación primaria fue bajo, comparado con las tasas generales. Un estudio reportó además que el número de brotes estuvo asociado a la incidencia comunitaria y que el personal del colegio tenía más probabilidad de infectarse que los estudiantes, mientras que un segundo estudio encontró tasas muy bajas de infección por SARS-CoV-2 sintomática o asintomática en estudiantes y personal del colegio luego de una apertura parcial y total de escuelas primarias en Inglaterra. Además, dos estudios de vigilancia epidemiológica reportaron un mayor número de casos en escuelas secundarias que en las primarias. En el caso particular de Inglaterra, que una vez abiertas las escuelas, se produjo un confinamiento general excepto las escuelas, reportó que el confinamiento se asoció con una disminución en las tasas de infección en adultos, y seguidamente una disminución en casos de estudiantes. En España, un estudio en las primeras semanas de año académico encontró una asociación significativa entre el número de infecciones notificadas por los estudiantes y el personal, y la incidencia en semanas posteriores, siendo mayor esta incidencia en las escuelas secundarias. En Italia, la reapertura de escuelas registró muy pocas escuelas con casos de infecciones de SARS-CoV-2, en la mayoría con un estudiante por escuela. Todos los estudios identificados fueron publicados previamente a la aparición de las últimas variantes del SARS-CoV-2. En la mayoría de los países de Latinoamérica el retorno a clases presenciales en las escuelas ha tomado entre 6 y 18 meses. Las principales medidas no farmacológicas (medidas preventivas) que se consideraron para el retorno de las clases han sido el mantenimiento de la distancia entre los actores involucrados, el uso de mascarilla y el lavado de manos, así como toda aquella estrategia que permita que estas primeras medidas sean propiciadas tales como la rotación de horarios, la organización en grupos de estudiantes específicos y constantes, el manejo adecuado de los alimentos y de los espacios para su consumo. Se ha planteado que el regreso a las clases presenciales sea gradual tomando en cuenta el nivel de trasmisibilidad de la infección en cada región.

Exploration of Experiences and Perpetration of Identity-Based Bullying Among Adolescents by Race/Ethnicity and Other Marginalized Identities.

Importance: Race-based discrimination represents an ongoing public health crisis in the US, manifested by wide-ranging disparities in youth health, mental health, and violence exposure. However, studies of racial discrimination often neglect experiences of identity-based bullying (IBB) stemming from other marginalized identities, such as gender identity and sexual orientation. Objective: To examine associations between experiences of IBB based on race/ethnicity/national origin and other social identities and youth health, mental health, and violence outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study analyzed responses from an anonymous survey conducted at 13 public high schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between October 15, 2018, and October 19, 2018. Participants included in the study were in the 9th through 12th grades. Data were analyzed from October 15, 2020, to February 14, 2021. Exposures: Experiences of bullying and bullying perpetration based on race/ethnicity/national origin and other social identities (ie, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, immigration status, other unspecified reason). Main Outcomes and Measures: Youth health (delayed well care; forgone medical care; physical, mental, or emotional limitations), mental health (nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation), and violence involvement (weapon perpetration or survivorship, fighting, sexual assault, adolescent relationship abuse, experiencing homicide of friend or family member) were assessed using self-reported items modeled on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results: Among 3939 participants, the mean (SD) age was 15.7 (1.3) years; 1380 students (36.3%) identified as Black/African American, 2086 (53.7%) as assigned female at birth, 1021 (32.6%) as belonging to a sexual minority group, and 313 (10.0%) as gender diverse. Among reported social identities, race/ethnicity-based experiences of bullying (375 students [9.5%]) and bullying perpetration (209 students [5.8%]) were the most common. Youth with multiple stigmatized identities experienced even higher rates of experiences of IBB and IBB perpetration. Specifically, the highest rates of IBB were reported by gender diverse Black and Hispanic youth. Experiencing IBB based on multiple stigmatized identities was associated with all outcomes, including delayed well care (aOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.20-1.65), forgone medical care (aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.44-1.87), nonsuicidal self-injury (aOR, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.53-3.24), suicidal ideation (aOR, 2.49; 95% CI, 2.20-2.83), and greater violence involvement (experiencing violence: aOR, 2.90; 95% CI, 2.45-3.43; homicide survivorship: aOR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06-1.33). Conclusions and Relevance: These results further encourage the development of youth health, mental health, and violence prevention programs that address experiences of bullying based on multiple marginalized identities.

Beyond Sociodemographic and COVID-19-Related Factors: The Association Between the Need for Psychological and Information Support from School and Anxiety and Depression.

BACKGROUND In addition to sociodemographic and COVID-19- related factors, the needs of school support, including material, psychological and information support, have seldom been discussed as factors influencing anxiety and depression among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 3351 college students from China were surveyed through questionnaires about their sociodemographic and COVID-19 characteristics, the needs of school support, and their experiences with anxiety and depression. RESULTS Anxiety and depression were reported by 6.88% and 10.50% of students, respectively. Married, higher education, non-medical, and urban students had significantly higher risks of anxiety or depression. Additionally, symptoms such as cough and fever, especially when following a possible contact with suspected individuals, quarantine history of a personal contact, going out 1-3 times a week, not wearing a mask, and spending 2-3 hours browsing COVID-19-related information were significantly associated with the occurrence of anxiety or depression. Those who used methods to regulate their emotional state, used a psychological hotline, and who had visited a psychiatrist showed higher anxiety or depression. Those who used online curricula and books, used preventive methods for COVID-19, and who had real-time information about the epidemic situation of the school showed lower anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS In addition to sociodemographic and COVID-19-related aspects, students' needs for psychological assistance and information from schools were also associated with anxiety and depression among college students.

The global viralization of policies to contain the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic: Analyses of school closures and first reported cases.

BACKGROUND: On January 30th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a international health emergency due to the unprecedented phenomenon of COVID-19. After this declaration countries swiftly implemented a variety of health policies. In this work we examine how rapid countries responded to this pandemic using two events: the day in which the first case of COVID-19 was reported, and first day in which countries used school closure as one of the measures to avoid outbreaks. We also assessed how countries' health systems, globalization, economic development, political systems, and economic integration to China, Republic of Korea and Italy increased the speed of adoption. METHODS: We compiled information from multiple sources, from December 31st 2019 to June 1st 2020, to trace when 172 countries reported their first COVID-19 case and implemented school closure to contain outbreaks. We applied cross-national Weibull survival analysis to evaluate the global speed of detection of first COVID-19 reported cases and school closure. RESULTS: Ten days after WHO declared COVID-19 to be an international emergency, relative to seven days from this declaration, countries were 28 (95% CI: 12-77) times more likely to report first COVID-19 cases and 42 (95% CI: 22-90) times more likely to close schools. One standard deviation increase in the epidemic security index rises the rate of report first cases by 37% (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.37 (95% CI: 1.09-1.72) and delays the adoption for school closures by 36% (HR 0.64 (95% CI:0.50-0.82). One standard deviation increase in the globalization index augments the adoption for school closures by 74% (HR 1.74 (95% CI:1.34-2.24). CONCLUSION: After the WHO declared a global emergency, countries were unprecedently acting very rapidly. While countries more globally integrated were swifter in closing schools, countries with better designed health systems to tackle epidemics were slower in adopting it. More studies are needed to assess how the speed of school closures and other policies will affect the development of the pandemic.

Assessing the educational performance of different Brazilian school cycles using data science methods.

Educational indicators are metrics that assist in assessing the quality of the educational system. They are often associated with economic and social factors suggested to contribute to good school performance, however there is no consensus on the impact of these factors. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the factors related to school performance. Using a data set composed by Brazilian schools' performance (IDEB), socioeconomic and school structure variables, we generated different models. The non-linear model predicted the best performance, measured by the error and determination coefficient metrics. The heterogeneity of the importance of the variable between school cycles and regions of the country was detected, this effect may contribute to the development of public educational policies.

Special Issues in Immigrant Medicine.

Immigrants enrich the United States through economic contributions and unique perspectives. Immigrants find themselves navigating a new culture, a complicated health care system, unfamiliar social programs, and an ever-changing policy environment. They may be discouraged by unmet expectations of life in the United States, changing family dynamics, and discrimination. Screening for the social determinants of health is crucial, as not all patients will proactively seek the advice of their health care provider for these issues. Health care providers can assist and empower immigrants to navigate these challenges, as well as serve as advocates on a broader scale.

Healthcare and education networks interaction as an indicator of social services stability following natural disasters.

Healthcare and education systems have been identified by various national and international organizations as the main pillars of communities' stability. Understanding the correlation between these main social services institutions is critical to determining the tipping point of communities following natural disasters. Despite being defined as social services stability indicators, to date, no studies have been conducted to determine the level of interdependence between schools and hospitals and their collective influence on their recoveries following extreme events. In this study, we devise an agent-based model to investigate the complex interaction between healthcare and education networks and their overall recovery, while considering other physical, social, and economic factors. We employ comprehensive models to simulate the functional processes within each facility and to optimize their recovery trajectories after earthquake occurrence. The results highlight significant interdependencies between hospitals and schools, including direct and indirect relationships, suggesting the need for collective coupling of their recovery to achieve full functionality of either of the two systems following natural disasters. Recognizing this high level of interdependence, we then establish a social services stability index, which can be used by policymakers and community leaders to quantify the impact of healthcare and education services on community resilience and social services stability.

Addressing the Consequences of the COVID-19 Lockdown for Children's Mental Health: Investing in School Mental Health Programs.

Children are likely to struggle with mental health consequences relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. School closures and home confinement increase the risk for emotional distress, domestic violence and abuse, and social isolation, as well as for disruption of sleep-wake and meal cycles, physical exercise routines, and health care access. As schools reopen, school mental health programs (SMHPs) incorporating universal approaches will be important for all children, and targeted approaches will be necessary for those more severely affected. Using their experience in Pakistan, the authors provide a roadmap for extending the World Health Organization's eastern Mediterranean region's SMHP to address the mental health consequences of COVID-19 among children globally.

Socio-economic and Regional Differences in Walkability and Greenspace Around Primary Schools: A Census of Australian Primary School Neighbourhoods.

Socio-economic inequality in the physical activity environment surrounding primary schools may contribute to socio-economic gradients in physical activity and childhood obesity levels. Using a cross-sectional study design, ordinary least squares and logistic regressions were fitted to assess variation in walkability and greenspace within 1 km of primary schools (n = 7133) according to area-level socio-economic position (SEP) and remoteness. Effect modification by school location (major cities or regional/remote) was assessed through stratified analyses. Walkability scores significantly increased from low to high school neighbourhood SEP (p < 0.01) and from remote/very remote to major city locations (p < 0.01). Greenspace area (hectares) in the school neighbourhood was greater in highest compared to lowest SEP areas (ß = 18.75, 95%CI 6.63, 30.87) and less in major cities compared to remote/very remote locations (ß = - 23.9, 95%CI - 39.7, - 8.1). Schools in highest SEP areas and major cities had higher odds of having any greenspace in their neighbourhood, compared to those in lowest SEP and remote/very remote locations (OR 5.93, (95% CI 4.50, 7.05), OR 20.19, (95% CI 16.05, 25.39) respectively). Stratified results (major cities or regional/remote locations) found the highest SEP school neighbourhoods had higher walkability scores and more greenspace compared to lowest SEP school neighbourhoods in both strata, although overall SEP gradient in walkability and greenspace area only remained in major cities. Walkability and greenspace infrastructure in the school neighbourhood could be improved in areas of lower SEP so that all school children have the opportunity for physical activity.

Analyzing the Association between Student Weight Status and School Meal Participation: Evidence from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study.

Childhood obesity remains a pressing public health concern. Children consume a substantial amount of their caloric intake while in school, making the passage of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) in 2010 and the subsequent improvements to the school meal standards a key policy change. Using data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study, this paper seeks to re-examine the association between students' (N = 1963) weight status and participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) since the implementation of these policy changes to determine whether, and how, this relationship has changed. After controlling for a wide array of student characteristics and school-level fixed effects, findings from the multivariate regression analyses indicate that usual participation in the school meal programs has no clear association with students' weight status, which contradicts findings from earlier studies conducted prior to the passage of the HHFKA. These findings are discussed in relation to changes in the demographic composition of usual NSLP participants over time.